Mich. Comp. Laws § § 37.1502
Owners, persons engaging in real estate transactions, real estate brokers, and real estate salesmen; prohibited conduct.
Operative Text
Sec. 502. (1) An owner or any other person engaging in a real estate transaction, or a real estate broker or salesman shall not, on the basis of a disability of a buyer or renter, of a person residing in or intending to reside in a dwelling after it is sold, rented, or made available, or of any person associated with that buyer or renter, that is unrelated to the individual's ability to acquire, rent, or maintain property or use by an individual of adaptive devices or aids: (a) Refuse to engage in a real estate transaction with a person. (b) Discriminate against a person in the terms, conditions, or privileges of a real estate transaction or in the furnishing of facilities or services in connection with a real estate transaction. (c) Refuse to receive or fail to transmit a bona fide offer to engage in a real estate transaction from a person. (d) Refuse to negotiate for a real estate transaction with a person. (e) Represent to a person that real property is not available for inspection, sale, rental, or lease when in fact it is available, fail to bring a property listing to a person's attention, refuse to permit a person to inspect real property, or otherwise deny or make real property unavailable to a person. (f) Make, print, circulate, post, or mail or cause to be made or published a statement, advertisement, or sign, or use a form of application for a real estate transaction, or make a record of inquiry in connection with a prospective real estate transaction, which indicates, directly or indirectly, an intent to make a limitation, specification, or discrimination with respect to a real estate transaction. (g) Offer, solicit, accept, use, or retain a listing of real property with the understanding that a person may be discriminated against in a real estate transaction or in the furnishing of facilities or services in connection with a real estate transaction. (h) Discriminate against a person in the brokering or appraising of real property. (2) A person shall not deny a person access to or membership or participation in a multiple listing service, real estate brokers' organization or other service, organization, or facility relating to the business of selling or renting real property, or discriminate against a person in the terms or conditions of that access, membership, or participation.
Michigan Civil Rights Act § 37.1502 prohibits owners, real estate brokers, salespeople, and others involved in real estate transactions from discriminating against buyers, renters, or their associates on the basis of a disability that is unrelated to the person's ability to acquire, rent, or maintain property, or that stems from the use of adaptive devices or aids. The provision covers a wide range of conduct, including refusing to negotiate, misrepresenting property availability, publishing discriminatory advertisements, and denying access to multiple listing services or real estate organizations. Both individual transactions and the broader infrastructure of the real estate market—such as broker networks and appraisal services—fall within the rule's scope.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under MCL § 37.1502, property owners and those who engage in real estate transactions are expected to treat all prospective buyers and renters consistently, regardless of a disability that does not affect their ability to acquire or maintain property. Compliant operators generally ensure that listings are presented equally to all inquirers, that offers are received and transmitted without filtering based on disability status, and that advertising and application materials contain no language that signals discriminatory intent. Maintaining clear, uniform policies for showing properties, responding to inquiries, and processing applications helps demonstrate adherence to the standards set out in § 37.1502.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
MCL § 37.1502 gives buyers and renters the right to be free from disability-based discrimination across virtually every stage of a real estate transaction, from initial inquiry and property showings through negotiation, application, and access to broker services. If a person believes they have been refused a showing, given different terms, or otherwise treated unequally because of a disability unrelated to their ability to maintain property, they may have grounds to raise a violation under § 37.1502. General enforcement paths include filing a complaint with the Michigan Department of Civil Rights, raising the violation as a defense in a related legal proceeding, or consulting a tenant-rights or fair-housing organization for guidance on available options.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated October 13, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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